[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78296-78298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25200]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-970]


Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: 
Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping 
Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: On October 30, 2023, the U.S. Court of International Trade 
(CIT) issued its final judgment in American Manufacturers of 
Multilayered Wood Flooring v. United States, Court No. 20-03948, Slip 
Op. 23-70 (CIT May 5, 2023), sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce 
(Commerce)'s remand results pertaining to the administrative review of 
the antidumping duty (AD) order on multilayered wood flooring (MLWF) 
from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of 
review (POR) December 1, 2017, through November 30, 2018. Commerce is 
notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment is not in harmony 
with Commerce's final results of the administrative review, and that 
Commerce is amending the final results with respect to the dumping 
margin assigned to Dalian Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd., Fusong 
Jinlong Wooden Group Co., Ltd., Fusong Jinqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd., 
and Fusong Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd. (collectively, Jinlong); 
Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co., Ltd. (Guyu); and certain non-
individually examined respondents.

DATES: Applicable November 9, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis Cherry, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 3, 2020, Commerce published its Final Results in the 
2017-2018 AD administrative review of MLWF from China.\1\ Commerce 
determined that mandatory respondents Jinlong and Guyu did not make 
sales of MLWF from China at prices below normal value (NV) during the 
POR.\2\

[[Page 78297]]

Thus, Commerce calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin 
and cash deposit rate (adjusted for subsidy offsets) of 0.00 percent 
for Jinlong and Guyu, which it applied to the non-individually-examined 
companies that were found to be eligible for a separate rate.\3\
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    \1\ See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of 
China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and 
New Shipper Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2017-
2018, 85 FR 78118 (December 3, 2020) (Final Results), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM).
    \2\ Id.
    \3\ Id., 85 FR at 78119.
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    The American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring (the 
petitioner) appealed Commerce's Final Results. On May 5, 2023, the CIT 
remanded the Final Results to Commerce.\4\ In the Remand Order, the CIT 
directed Commerce to revise the surrogate manufacturing overhead (MOH) 
ratio calculation by including the entire amount of indirect production 
expenses stated in the surrogate financial statement in the numerator, 
or otherwise explain why it cannot do so.\5\ The CIT held that 
Commerce's determination of the MOH ratio was not supported by 
substantial evidence because: (1) limiting overhead expenses in the 
numerator to depreciation, other materials, and third party service 
expenses is unreasonable in light of the universe of expenses normally 
considered to make up overhead; and (2) Commerce's claim that using the 
indirect production expenses entry in the numerator of the MOH ratio 
may be distortive is a speculative conclusion.\6\ Additionally, the CIT 
remanded the Final Results to Commerce to reconsider its application of 
its Labor Rate Policy, which assumes 24 working days per month, 5.5 
working days per week, and eight working hours per day, to calculate a 
surrogate hourly labor rate.\7\ If Commerce continued to use this 
policy, the CIT directed Commerce to explain: (1) the source for the 
assumptions; (2) why it is a reasonable basis on which to calculate the 
surrogate labor rate; and (3) how it is more specific to Romania than 
information provided by the petitioner.\8\
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    \4\ See American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring v. 
United States, Court No. 20-03948, Slip Op. 23-70 (CIT May 5, 2023) 
(Remand Order).
    \5\ Id. at 33.
    \6\ See Final Results IDM at 17-20; see also Remand Order at 19-
20.
    \7\ See Remand Order at 33; see also Antidumping Methodologies 
in Proceedings Involving Non-Market Economies: Valuing the Factor of 
Production: Labor, 76 FR 36092, 36093 (June 21, 2011) (Labor Rate 
Policy).
    \8\ See Remand Order at 33.
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    In its remand redetermination, issued on August 24, 2023, Commerce 
revised the surrogate MOH ratio, explained the assumptions underlying 
its Labor Rate Policy, and revised the surrogate hourly labor rate.\9\ 
On October 30, 2023, the CIT sustained Commerce's final 
redetermination.\10\
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    \9\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court 
Remand, American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring v. 
United States, Court No. 20-3948, dated August 24, 2023 (Final 
Remand), available at https://access.trade.gov/resources/remands/23-70.pdf.
    \10\ See American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring v. 
United States, Court No. 20-03948, Slip Op. 23-156 (CIT October 30, 
2023).
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Timken Notice

    In its decision in Timken,\11\ as clarified by Diamond 
Sawblades,\12\ the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held 
that, pursuant to section 516A(c) and (e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), Commerce must publish a notice of court decision 
that is not ``in harmony'' with a Commerce determination and must 
suspend liquidation of entries pending a ``conclusive'' court decision. 
The CIT's October 30, 2023, judgment constitutes a final decision of 
the CIT that is not in harmony with Commerce's Final Results. Thus, 
this notice is published in fulfillment of the publication requirements 
of Timken.
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    \11\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 
1990) (Timken).
    \12\ See Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition v. United 
States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
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Amended Final Results

    Because there is now a final court judgment, Commerce is amending 
its Final Results with respect to Jinlong, Guyu, and the non-
individually-examined separate rate companies, as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Weighted-
                                                              average
                        Exporter                          dumping margin
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dalian Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.; Fusong Jinlong             2.05
 Wooden Group Co., Ltd.; Fusong Jinqiu Wooden Product
 Co., Ltd.; and Fusong Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
 (collectively, Jinlong)................................
Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co., Ltd.............            0.00
Non-Selected Companies Under Review Receiving a Separate       \14\ 2.05
 Rate \13\..............................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash Deposit Requirements
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    \13\ See Appendix.
    \14\ As the recalculated margin for Jinlong is the only margin 
that is not zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under section 
776 of the Act, we assigned this margin to the non-individually-
examined separate rate companies, consistent with the guidance 
provided in section 735(c)(5) of the Act.
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    For seven separate rate respondents that do not have a superseding 
cash deposit rate,\15\ Commerce will issue revised cash deposit 
instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Because 
Jinlong, Guyu, and the remaining separate rate respondents have a 
superseding cash deposit rate, i.e., there have been final results 
published in a subsequent administrative review, we will not issue 
revised cash deposit instructions to CBP. This notice will not affect 
the current cash deposit rate for these companies.
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    \15\ These companies are Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.; 
Dalian Deerfu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.; Dalian Shengyu Science And 
Technology Development Co., Ltd.; Dunhua City Wanrong Wood Industry 
Co., Ltd.; Power Dekor Group Co., Ltd.; Yekalon Industry Inc.; and 
Zhejiang Shiyou Timber Co., Ltd.
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Liquidation of Suspended Entries

    At this time, Commerce remains enjoined by CIT order from 
liquidating entries that: were exported by Jinlong, Guyu, and the non-
individually-examined separate rate respondents listed in the Appendix, 
and were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during 
the period December 1, 2017, through November 30, 2018. These entries 
will remain enjoined pursuant to the terms of the injunction during the 
pendency of any appeals process.
    In the event the CIT's ruling is not appealed, or, if appealed, 
upheld by a final and conclusive court decision, Commerce intends to 
instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on unliquidated entries of 
subject merchandise exported by Jinlong, Guyu, and the non-
individually-examined separate rate respondents in accordance with 19 
CFR 351.212(b), where appropriate. We will instruct CBP to assess 
antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review 
when the weighted-average dumping margin or an importer-specific ad 
valorem assessment rate is not zero or de minimis. Where the weighted-
average dumping margin or an importer-specific ad valorem assessment 
rate is zero or de minimis,\16\ we will instruct CBP to liquidate the 
appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties.
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    \16\ See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
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Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 
516A(c) and (e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.


[[Page 78298]]


    Dated: November 8, 2023.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

Non-Individually Examined Companies Eligible for a Separate Rate

A&W (Shanghai) Woods Co., Ltd.
Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.
Benxi Wood Company
Dalian Dajen Wood Co., Ltd.
Dalian Deerfu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
Dalian Jiahong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Dalian Kemian Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Dalian Penghong Floor Products Co., Ltd./Dalian Shumaike Floor 
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Dalian Shengyu Science And Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Dalian T-Boom Wood Products Co., Ltd.
Dongtai Fuan Universal Dynamics, LLC
Dunhua City Dexin Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Dunhua City Hongyuan Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Dunhua City Wanrong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Dun Hua Sen Tai Wood Co., Ltd.
Dunhua Shengda Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Panyu Southern Star Co., Ltd.
HaiLin LinJing Wooden Products, Ltd.
Hangzhou Hanje Tec Company Limited
Hunchun Xingjia Wooden Flooring Inc.
Huzhou Chenghang Wood Co., Ltd
Huzhou Fulinmen Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
Huzhou Sunergy World Trade Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Keri Wood Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Mingle Flooring Co., Ltd
Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Simba Flooring Co., Ltd.
Jiashan HuiJiaLe Decoration Material Co., Ltd.
Jiaxing Hengtong Wood Co., Ltd.
Jilin Xinyuan Wooden Industry Co., Ltd.
Karly Wood Product Limited
Kember Flooring, Inc.
Kemian Wood Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring, Inc.
Linyi Youyou Wood Co., Ltd.
Metropolitan Hardwood Floors, Inc.
Mudanjiang Bosen Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
Nakahiro Jyou Sei Furniture (Dalian) Co., Ltd.
Omni Arbor Solution Co., Ltd.
Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd.
Power Dekor Group Co., Ltd.
Scholar Home (Shanghai) New Material Co., Ltd.
Shenyang Haobainian Wooden Co., Ltd.
Sino-Maple (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.
Tongxiang Jisheng Import and Export Co., Ltd.
Xuzhou Shenghe Wood Co., Ltd.
Yekalon Industry Inc.
Yihua Lifestyle Technology Co., Ltd. (successor-in-interest to 
Guangdong Yihua Timber Industry Co., Ltd.)
Zhejiang Dadongwu Green Home Wood Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Fuerjia Wooden Co., Ltd
Zhejiang Longsen Lumbering Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Shiyou Timber Co., Ltd.

[FR Doc. 2023-25200 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P